March 23, 2012

Roster Cuts - Cubs, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Braves, Rays

The Cubs sent their top two prospects, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and center fielder Brett Jackson, down to minor league camp on Friday, but as Gordon Wittenmyer of The Chicago Sun-Times points out, no one on the North Side of the Windy City expects them to be in the minors for too long. The Cubs new management had said upon acquiring Rizzo this off-season that he would start the season back in Triple-A after his struggles last season in the majors, and Jackson, despite his enormous potential, still has issues with making contact that he needs to work out. The club has not put a timetable on the return of either prospect, but one can assume that, come mid-summer when the Cubs are out of the NL Central race and are looking for a spark, and a reason to create excitement, that the front office will turn to one, or both, pieces of its future.

The Rockies have sent down two of their top position prospects, third baseman Nolan Arenado and center fielder Tim Wheeler, reports Thomas Harding of MLB.com. Arenado, having just finished a season in High-A ball, had little chance to make the Rockies roster this spring, but given the team's underwhelming situation at the hot corner, he might have been able to force their hand with a hot March. His .192 batting average in Cactus League action didn't quite cut it, but if the team likes how he responds to Double-A pitching, don't be surprised to see him move quickly through the Rockies system and end the season just a step from the majors.

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Roster Cuts - Cubs, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Braves, Rays

The Cubs sent their top two prospects, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and center fielder Brett Jackson, down to minor league camp on Friday, but as Gordon Wittenmyer of The Chicago Sun-Times points out, no one on the North Side of the Windy City expects them to be in the minors for too long. The Cubs new management had said upon acquiring Rizzo this off-season that he would start the season back in Triple-A after his struggles last season in the majors, and Jackson, despite his enormous potential, still has issues with making contact that he needs to work out. The club has not put a timetable on the return of either prospect, but one can assume that, come mid-summer when the Cubs are out of the NL Central race and are looking for a spark, and a reason to create excitement, that the front office will turn to one, or both, pieces of its future.

The Rockies have sent down two of their top position prospects, third baseman Nolan Arenado and center fielder Tim Wheeler, reports Thomas Harding of MLB.com. Arenado, having just finished a season in High-A ball, had little chance to make the Rockies roster this spring, but given the team's underwhelming situation at the hot corner, he might have been able to force their hand with a hot March. His .192 batting average in Cactus League action didn't quite cut it, but if the team likes how he responds to Double-A pitching, don't be surprised to see him move quickly through the Rockies system and end the season just a step from the majors.